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QUESTION: Along Beretania (and other streets) we see a growing number of traffic signals at a single intersection. At Beretania and Victoria (a relatively low-traffic intersection), there are six traffic lights facing Beretania traffic, four of them on an ugly arm that extends over the whole street. This is not only ugly but seems an extreme waste. A block later, at Ward Avenue, there are only the traditional two traffic lights facing Beretania traffic on each street corner. This seems more than satisfactory. Why must we see so much more traffic infrastructure, including on streets where there is usually so many vehicles that traffic rarely moves quickly, if at all.
ANSWER: It’s because of new federal traffic standards, according to the city Department of Transportation Services.
When installing or upgrading a traffic signal, the city looks to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for the placement and number of lights required for each approach, said DTS Director Michael Formby.
The manual is approved by the Federal Highways Administration as the national standard.
The latest version of the manual requires a traffic signal to be placed over each lane when a signal mast arm is installed.
"While this may appear to be an excessive use of traffic signals, studies have found significant safety benefits in locating one signal head per through lane when there is more than one through lane," Formby said.
Additional follow-up studies have shown the use of "back plates" with reflective borders makes the signal head more conspicuous, he said.
As a result, both the city and state are installing signal heads, on mast arms, with back plates for each lane.
By making a traffic light more visible with the combination of a signal head and back plate, the intent is "to reduce the unintentional red-light running" and subsequent risk of collisions, Formby said.
The additional signal heads will be installed as the city upgrades existing signalized intersections.
That’s what happened at Beretania and Victoria, but not yet a block away at Beretania and Ward.
So far, the city has installed one signal head per traffic lane at five intersections, and installed one signal head with back plate per lane at 24 intersections.
It costs about $900 for one signal head with back plate (equipment and installation), Formby said.
SIZE OF POLES
Formby also pointed out that new traffic signal poles are "significantly larger in diameter" than existing poles.
That’s because of revised American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials’ requirements regarding "wind loading speed," Formby said.
"Since we are adding more signal heads with back plates — more surface area for the wind — the signal pole strengths have to be increased," which means larger poles, he said.
MAHALO
To a wonderful young person named Shane. Back in May, after shopping at Longs Drugs Pearl City, I tripped on a loose rug at the front of the store and crashed into the sidewalk. Trying to brace myself, I fell on my right elbow causing a compound fracture and a big bloody mess. Shane came to my assistance, talking to me, telling me to stay awake, asking me how I felt. When Longs personnel came out, she told them what kind of first-aid supplies I needed while we waited for the ambulance. I am indebted to her for staying with me until the ambulance came. She said she had medical training in her work at a women’s correctional facility. I was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center, where I had surgery to reset my broken elbow. I asked my son to see if he could locate Shane, but we could not find her. I would like to thank her personally for staying with me that day. — Grateful
With the help of the state Department of Public Safety, we were able to locate Shani "Shane" Maielua, an adult corrections officer with the Women’s Community Correctional Center. "Grateful" said her arm has healed and she was looking forward to seeing Shane again.
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